What is a Response Paper?

A Response Paper should have a clear focus. You define the topic of your paper! The topic can be any issue, thought or argument that came up in our reading assignments and the related classroom discussions. A Response Paper should work with the text. Sometimes it might be tempting to move too quickly from what you read to general thoughts or big questions. I want you to resist this move and force yourself to stay with the text. Which part of the text are you concerned with? What does the author say exactly? A good way to do this is to give a brief quotation that is central to the authors argument. The quotation should include a page number. After you quote that sentence you need to explain the larger context in which you found the sentence: what is the author discussing here? What is his take on the issue? Once you have clarified this, you can move on to your own reflections. A Response Paper should take a stance. In other words: At some point in your paper there should be an I in the text. This can take many forms: you may agree, disagree with or be slightly skeptical of an argument. You may find a place in the text especially revealing for certain reasons (explain those reasons!). You may be confused about an argument in which case you should pinpoint the precise source of your confusion. You may find parallels between what you read and what you know, but this parallel, again, should be specific. After I read your paper I should have a clear impression about your own relationship to the topic. A Response Paper should make a strong argument. Regardless whether you agree, disagree or have questions about the topic at stake, you should articulate your views and questions as thoroughly and creatively as possible. Do not simply affirm an authors opinion. Instead develop your own argument and be in control of your sources! A student in control of his or her sources quotes or refers to a text, in order to make his or her own point. A student not in control of his or her sources takes another persons argument and lets this argument dictate the paper. A Response Paper should be well written. Is your paper organized? Does it have an introduction, a conclusion? How well did you integrate quotations or an authors opinion? Is your writing clear and error-free?